What If The Police Come to Your House?

An officer may come to your home to interview someone in an investigation; to make a notification or give a message; or to serve an arrest or search warrant.

A search warrant is a judge's court order commanding officers to search a location for evidence or a person. A copy will be left at the house and a list of property taken given to the homeowner. The homeowner need not be home when police serve a warrant. You may ask to see a copy of the search warrant.

It is not necessary for the officer to have a copy of an arrest warrant in hand with them in order to make a valid arrest.

Police officers will provide identification and their reason for being at your home. However, when executing a warrant, police do not have to "knock-and-announce" if they believe there are emergency circumstances. This would include protecting a life or preventing the destruction of evidence

The Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police
would like to offer some tips and suggestions
to help when interacting with the police that
will make the experience less stressful and
will help to ensure your safety and the safety
of the officer Read on...